Footy Tipping 2017 – NRL Round 1

It’s actually been five months since the 2016 round-up post, so even if the temperatures are still summery it’s time for the winter sports codes to get underway.
As usual NRL is first to start with AFL still three weeks away.
Also as usual I don’t have a huge idea about how things have gone in the off-season for these teams thanks to living in a Rugby League sensory deprivation zone.
If usual trends are followed one well performed team from last year will have an inexplicable form slump and one terrible team from last will will have an equally inexplicable form improvement. If they were racehorses the stewards would have an enquiry. New Zealand will continue to go missing away from home, and this may be Canberra’s year to carry its form on.

Although Brookvale Oval’s transformation courtesy of naming rights sponsor Lottoland earns them the season long designation of ‘Lottoland Eagles’.

NRL (last round 0/0; season tally 0/0)
Brisbane
Melbourne
Souths
Penrith
North Queensland
Easts
New Zealand
Parramatta (as much as I want to use the words ‘Lottoland Eagles’)